David 'Doc' Kauffman, 92
David “Doc” Kauffman, 92, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2014, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation.
Doc was born to the late Anna and N.L. “Roy” Kauffman in Creston in January of 1922. He was the middle child of 15 children. He lived in Creston and attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. He worked on the family farm, in the family sawmill and as a packer for the U.S. Forest Service until World War II. During the war he served his country as a “conscientious objector” in the Civilian Public Service (CPS) program taking care of the National Parks, working as a smokejumper fighting fires in Idaho and on a cattle boat taking livestock to Poland. Upon his return he ended up in Virginia where he obtained his GED and attended Eastern Mennonite College (Eastern Mennonite University) in studies for pre-med.
He met his future wife, Ruth, at school and they married in Akron, Pa. The newlyweds lived in Philadelphia where Doc completed his medical training at Hahnemann University Hospital in family practice. After a short, two-year surgical residency in Spokane, Doc and Ruth moved to Whitefish where he practiced family medicine for over 40 years. Doc was an original “country doctor” who made many house calls for patients.
A man of many talents, Doc also served for over 20 years as a lay minister for the Whitefish Christian Church. He performed marriages and funerals all over the Flathead Valley. He never kept count but was busy most weekends. Some of his most memorable ceremonies were performed at various locations in Glacier National Park and on horseback.
Among Doc’s passions were horses and hunting. Anyone who knew Doc surely heard of the hunting trips with his pack string into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This yearly sojourn spawned many tall and interesting stories about hunting and those who accompanied him. His hunting trophies were proudly displayed in his home. Doc was also an active member of the Back Country Horseman.
Music was something Doc enjoyed from a very young age with his family and in church. He sang with the local Barbershop Chorus and in the Flathead Community Choir for many years.
His zest for life, welcoming smile, love of family and his ever-present cowboy hat will be missed by all those who had the privilege of meeting him. He lived life to its fullest and considered anyone he met a friend.
Doc was preceded in death by his parents Anna and N.L. “Roy” Kauffman and 11 of his siblings.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth E. Kauffman of Whitefish; two sisters, Gladys Reimer of Whitewater, Kan., and Rosella Eby of Drake, Saskatchewan, Canada; one brother, Joe and Ruth Kauffman of Lebanon, Ore.; two sons, David Jr. and Anita of Whitefish, and Stephen of Yakima, Wash.; two daughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Kauffman-Harmon and Stephen of Wasilla, Alaska, and Rebecca “Becky” Kauffman-Piotrowski and David of Durango, Colo.; and six grandchildren, Britta and Brice Kauffman of Yakima, Wash., and Justin, Travis, Darren and Ashley Kauffman of Whitefish.
A celebration of Doc’s life will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 25 at Whitefish Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway, in Whitefish. An informal reception will follow services.
In lieu of flowers the family encourages you to make a donation in Doc’s name to one of the following organizations: Mennonite Central Committee, 21 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500; Angel Tree Foundation/Prison Fellowship, P.O. Box 1550, Merrifield, VA 22116-1550, (800) 206-9764; Whitefish Food Bank, 311 First St., Whitefish MT 59937, (406) 862-5863; or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011, (800) 272-3900.
You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Doc’s tribute wall. Arrangements are entrusted to Austin Funeral Home.